The United Nations human rights office criticized President Trump this week for forgiving four Blackwater guards who were convicted in connection with the murder of Iraqi civilians – claiming that pardons contribute “to impunity”.
“We are deeply concerned about the recent US presidential pardons for four security guards from the private military company Blackwater who were convicted of killing 14 Iraqi civilians,” said UN Human Rights Office spokeswoman Marta Hurtado.
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“These four individuals received sentences ranging from 12 years to life imprisonment, including on charges of first-degree murder. Losing them contributes to impunity and has the effect of encouraging others to commit such crimes in the future, ”said Hurtado.
The four men were employed by the United States Department of State in 2007 when they opened fire at a crowded roundabout – killing 14 Iraqis, including a child. The men’s defense lawyers argued that they responded to the fire after being ambushed by Iraqi insurgents.
Nicholas Slatten was convicted of murder, while Paul Slough, Evan Liberty and Dustin Heard were convicted of manslaughter in 2014, after a months-long trial in federal court in Washington.
Supporters of the men argued that the punishment was excessive and the charge was contaminated. The White House, in its statement announcing the pardons, said that the DC Circuit Court of Appeals concluded that additional evidence should have been presented at the Slatten trial.
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“Furthermore, prosecutors recently disclosed – more than 10 years after the incident – that the top Iraqi investigator, whom prosecutors relied heavily on to verify that there were no insurgent victims and to collect evidence, may have had connections with insurgent groups himself “statement said.
The UN office urged the United States to “renew its commitment to fight impunity for serious violations of human rights and serious violations of international humanitarian law, as well as to fulfill its obligations to ensure accountability for such crimes”.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.